Fruit-picker



Nu. 609,5l5. Patented Aug. 23, I898. D. LLOYD.

FRUIT PICKER.

(Application filed Dec. 28, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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DANIEL LLOYD, OF CAMBRIDGE, MARYLAND.

FRUIT-PICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 609,515, dated August23, 1898.

Application filed December 28,1897. Serial No, 664,034. (No model.) I

To (0Z6 whom it may concern: j

Be it known that I, DANIEL LLOYD, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Cam:

bridge, in the county of Dorchester and State of Maryland, have inventeda new and useful Fruit-Picker, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fruit-pickers and the objectthereof is to provide a simple device by means of which fruit of varioussizes may be quickly and readily plucked from the tree by the operatorand deposited in the receptacle provided therefor without bruising orotherwise injuring said fruit.

With the above object in view the invention consists in a handle havingarod secured at the upper end thereof, a receptacle comprising a fixedsection which is secured on the upper end of the rod, a sliding sectionmovable upon the rod and held normally in engagement with the fixedsection, and means for separating the said sections.

My invention further consists in the improved construction, arrangement,and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and afterwardspecifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In order .to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention mostnearly appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed todescribe its construction and operation, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 is an elevation of a fruit-picker embodying my invention. Fig.2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is aplanview of the adjustable collar.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A indicates the handle of thedevice, which may be of any desired length and having the rod 13 securedto the upper'end thereof.

0 is the upper section of the casing, which is spherical in the presentinstance, said section having a strengtheningplate secured upon theexterior thereof and at its center by rivets D, which pass through theradial arms E of said plate. The section is secured upon the upper endof the rod B, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

1: is the sliding section, having a strengthening-plate G similar to thestrengthening plate for the fixed section secured upon the :GXtGIlOIthereof at its center and carrying the of the collar to serve as guidesfor the cords ,or wires M, which pass therethrough, the upper ends ofsaid cords or wires being secured :in staples N, carried by the plate Gon opposite sides of the rod, while the lower ends of said cords areattached to the ring 0, to which the upper end of the operating-rope Pis secured, said rope being provided at its lower end with a handle Q.Thus it will be seen that the sections are normally held in contact andthe casing closed by the coiled spring I and that they may be separatedby drawing upon the operating-rope P.

The operation of my picker is as follows: The sections of the casing areseparated by drawing upon the operating-rope and positioned over thefruit to be plucked, the operating-rope being then released to permitthe spring to move the movable section into engagement with the fixedsection, thus inclosing the fruit. The fruit is then removed from thetree by drawing the picker downwardly through the medium of its handle,the sections being again separated to permit the fruit to fall therefrominto the receptacle provided therefor.

The meeting edges of the casing-sections are wired, as illustrated at B,so that said edges are not sharp, and hence cannot in any way out orinjure the fruit.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a veryconveniently-operated picking device, whereby the fruit may be removedfrom the tree without in any way injuring it.

While I have illustrated and described the best means now known to mefor carrying out my invention, I do not wish to be understood asrestricting myselfto the exact construction and arrangement shown, buthold that any slight changes, such as might suggest themselves to theordinary mechanic, would properly fall within the limit and scope of myinvention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a fruit-picker, the combination of a handle, a rod carriedthereby, a sectional casing the upper section of which is secured to theupper end of said rod and the lower section movable upon said rod, acollar adjustable upon the rod and formed with perforated ears, ropes orwires secured at one end to the movable section and extending throughthe perforated cars, a spring coiled about said rod between the collarand the movable section and serving to hold the latter in engagementwith the stationary section, and an operating-rope to which the ropes orwires are attached, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fruit-picker, the combination wit-ha handle having a rod carriedby its upper end, of a casing com prising two hemispherical sections,one of which is secured to the upper end of the rod and the othermovable thereon, a collar adjustable on said rod and having perforatedears, a coil-spring arranged between said collar and the movable sectionand serving to hold the latter in engagement with the stationarysection, ropes or Wires secured to the movable section and extendingthrough the perforated ears of the collar, said collar thus serving as aguide for said wires, and also for the purpose of adj usting said springto vary the tension thereof, and an operatingrope to which said ropes orwires are attached, substantially as described.

3. In a fruit-picker, the combination with a handle having a rod carriedby its upper end, of a casing comprising two sections, one of which issecured to the upper end of the rod and the other formed with a socketand movable on said rod, a collar adjustable on said rod and havingperforated ears, a spring coiled about said rod between said collar andsocket and serving tohold the movable section normally in engagementwith the stationary section, ropes or wires secured to eyes carried bythe movable section-on opposite sides of the socket, said ropes or wiresextending through the perforated ears of the collar, said collar thusserving as a guide for said wires, and also for the purposev ofadjusting saidspring to vary the tension thereof, and an operating-'rope to which said ropes or wires are attached, substantiallyasdescribed.

DANIEL LIJOYD.

Witnesses:

S. 'CARMINE, OLIVER SPEDDEN.

